Crime & Safety
Neighbor Says He Was Too Drunk To Remember Strangling Schaumburg Woman
Bulmaro Mejia-Maya was extradited back to Illinois this week to face charges in Tiffany Thrasher's murder.
SCHAUMBURG, IL — The neighbor charged with Tiffany Thrasher's murder admitted to raping her this week but said he was drunk and doesn't remember strangling her, prosecutors said, according to WGN. Bulmaro Mejia-Maya appeared in bond court Thursday after being extradited from Florida, where he allegedly fled after Thrasher was found dead on Easter Sunday. Mejia-Maya, who is charged with home invasion, aggravated criminal sexual assault and first-degree murder, was ordered held without bond.
Thrasher, 33, was found dead April 16 after failing to show up at church, where she was due to sing with the choir, on Easter Sunday. Police conducting a well-being check at Thrasher's apartment in the 2600 block of Clipper Drive found her body.
Prosecutors told a Cook County judge on Thursday that Mejia-Maya, 29, admitted to putting his hand over Thrasher's mouth as he raped her, but doesn't remember killing her because he was too drunk, according to WGN. He also reportedly told police that Thrasher was not moving when he left her apartment.
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After the murder, Mejia-Maya allegedly fled to Jacksonville, Florida, where he was arrested last week. Schaumburg detectives went to Jacksonville to interview Mejia-Maya, who made "incriminating statements," police said.
Prior to Mejia-Maya's arrest, police said they believed Thrasher's killer got in through an unlocked ground-floor window. They believe she was killed sometime between arriving home from dinner with friends at around 8 p.m. April 15 and 11:45 a.m. April 16. Police said Mejia-Maya lived across from Thrasher's apartment.
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Mejia-Maya, who also goes by the name of Mario Mejia, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of battery in 2013 after he was accused of stabbing a man in Florida. Schaumburg police said they took him into custody Thursday morning after he was extradited back to Illinois.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a hold on Mejia-Maya, according to WGN.
Image: Bulmaro Mejia-Maya/Schaumburg Police Department
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